Rail transportation of exported Ukrainian grains up 18% in Q1 - analysts

MOSCOW. April 16 (Interfax) - Some 9.9 million tonnes of exported Ukrainian grains were transported by rail in January-March 2024, which is 18.4% more than in the same period of 2023 and the largest amount seen over the past four years, Ukrainian media said, citing the UkrAgroConsult information analysis agency.

Eighty-five percent of grain exports transported by rail was destined for Ukrainian seaports.

"The unspent export potential of the first half of the agricultural year 2023/2024 caused the intensive rail transportation in the first quarter of 2024 and the larger shipments of grain through Ukrainian deep-water ports," UkrAgroConsult analysts said.

The intensity of grain transportation by rail to Ukrainian seaports gradually decreased in April, the analysts said. A decline in the number of grain hoppers headed to the Greater Odessa ports was observed on the first ten days of April. It decreased to 7,479 hoppers, or 324 hoppers less than in late March.

While analyzing transportation of agricultural exports to Western border checkpoints, the experts said that 2.07 million tonnes of agricultural products were transported in the first quarter of the year, a third less than in the same period of 2023. Rail transportation of exports dropped to the minimum of the current agricultural year in March. An average daily transshipment of grains at the Ukrainian western border stands at 285 hoppers in April, 32 hoppers less than in March.

"It looks like the general downward trend in hopper transportation by land corridors remains and volumes will continue to decline," UkrAgroConsult said.